119 Comments
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cook pasta, add frozen peas for the last 30 seconds or so, drain, and add a jar of pesto.

Good, and my kindergartener has always loved it too. Sometimes we do chopped broccoli instead of the frozen peas and he loves that as well. (Despite being an otherwise picky eater who will not eat cheese, o heresy!).

Also, sticking a poached egg on top of leftovers. How to poach the egg? Get a mug, fill with cold water, crack the egg into it, cover, and microwave for 30-45 seconds. Sounds terrible but it's not: it will be a near-perfect poached egg!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

We do cut up grape tomatoes in pesto pasta, but I like the peas idea, too!

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

microwave mug egg poaching is mind blowing game-changer - I will definitely try and likely be forever grateful

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Does the egg stick to the mug if you don't oil it? (Do you oil it?) Thanks!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

No sticking, because it is floating in the water. Egg and water don't mix.

I have done it at work in a paper cup with water and it was also fine then!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

amazing, thanks!

Expand full comment
founding

I just tried this egg thing and it didn't work! Can you share more details about it? Size of mug, volume of water, etc?

Expand full comment
Feb 4Liked by Claire Zulkey

I don't know without knowing what happened... did the egg just not come out cooked for you? In that case, probably use a longer cooking time (just put it back in, zap a little longer). Did you remember to cover the mug?

Here is the Bon Appetite version of the recipe :)

https://www.food.com/recipe/microwave-poached-eggs-bon-appetit-magazine-455672

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 4Liked by Claire Zulkey

Thanks!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Costco pre-cooked beets, cut. Costco goat cheese log, Crumbled. Any dressing. Salt & pepper. Extra fancy: Trader Joe’s candied pecans. Perfection

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Ooo beets and feta are goid together too

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Ooo yes, I bet! The saltiness of the feta! Yummm

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

This is my go to salad for big dinner parties because it is SO easy. I prefer pistachios and have fancied it up with Cara Cara oranges but it's great without!

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

I will have to try it with pistachios and Cara Cara’s!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Oh, I do the cooked beets cut up with a sprinkle of brown sugar!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Must try now!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese plus salsa. I know! Sounds horrible! It was something my mom ate in the 80s when she was dieting! That's where I learned it! But I really like it! Also, salsa on a hot baked sweet potato. It's seriously great. Just plain ol' salsa (I like pico de gallo but you do you!) on a nice hot sweet potato.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese on hot, buttered cooked corn and lots of black pepper. It was my go-to in college when nothing else appealed to me.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese and black pepper with potato chips for me.

My dad did cottage cheese with apple sauce- it's not bad?

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

So I love the combination above in a different take - cottage cheese on potato, with copious salt and pepper. Olive oil bonus ingredient.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I have never considered this option but you are a genius this sounds amazing

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese with Doritos was my mom’s go to in the 80s. Oh how I wish I could feed my kids like my mom fed us!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese plus everything bagel spice plus whatever crackers you have on hand is basically a bagel…so much better than it should be.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Cottage cheese plus kalamata olives including the juice. mix and put on crackers!

Expand full comment

Jumping on the cottage cheese bandwagon, but with a sweet take - cottage cheese plus berries plus a little of your favorite sweetener in the food processor until smooth and creamy. The CC has just the right flavor to give it a cheesecake-like twang but super easy and not high calorie.

Expand full comment

Cottage cheese with pineapple is my fav! It’s also great on toast with TJ’s everything bagel seasoning

Expand full comment

Frozen pizza + arugula tossed in olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Somehow the greens stacked on top make it so much better ?!?!

Also, when I make Mac and cheese for my kids I eat it with leftover roasted veggies of any kind + lots of sour kraut. Extra points if it's red saurkrat. Eat the rainbow 🌈 😜

Expand full comment
author

I was just thinking today how much I love a salad on top of a pizza (I had a BLT pizza last night) as well as a hamburger on top of a salad.

Expand full comment
founding

I have a local pizza place that does an arugula pizza with balsamic glaze and shaved parm and it is sooooo yummy

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

"avocado not to scale" lol!

I love to cut up an avocado, cut up a grapefruit, mix the two, and enjoy. So good!

Expand full comment
author

ooh unexpectedly fancy!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Yes! Not to sound too fancy, but I also add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of flakey salt. SO good and quick and easy!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I've had that somewhere fancy! Maybe an African restaurant? YUM.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Grapefruit with avocado sounds weirdly good!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

ok, so this isn't like, a healthful hack BUT it has genuinely enhanced my life. the "EVOL" brand of frozen microwaveable truffle mac and cheese is legitimately really really good and filling and warm and has the right tiny amount of bread crumb crunch and is not too truffle-y. You don't even have to poke holes or pull back the wrapping before you nuke it for 04:30. As for my addition to it, usually it's just fresh pepper + eat it out of a real bowl. But plenty of other things would be amazing. I hope this reaches someone in need.

Expand full comment
Feb 5Liked by Claire Zulkey

I like this one too! Also like their green chile vegetarian breakfast burritos.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Aldi take and bake veggie pizza. I put a clove or two in my garlic press and sprinkle it all over before baking. ELEVATES that shit to gourmet immediately.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Top Ramen (soy sauce flavor is my go-to) + veggies (broccoli? carrots?) + Trader Joe's frozen gyoza + an egg (boiled in the same pot with the ramen noodles)? OH MY. That's more than one thing, but nothing takes effort!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Waitttttt just boiling the gyoza in with the ramen noodle water? This is so so genius

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Oh yes, and a drizzle of sesame oil if I have it!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

This is also my go-to! Also frozen shrimp if I have any.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Locally made pierogies with sour cream. I pan fry the pierogies in olive oil until the outsides are a little cripsy, toss 'em on a plate, and add a dollop of sour cream. Yum.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Steam in bag green beans + a creamy salad dressing. The whole bag.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I do this with mixed vegetables , but with butter and seasoning!

Expand full comment

I think the best dip in the world is Greek yogurt with some salt and pepper, olive oil, and hot sauce stirred in. I literally salivated typing that.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

That sounds delicious.

Expand full comment

Chips and dip but make it cookies and plain Greek yogurt. The sweetness and the tang.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

This sounds incredible! Will be trying this ASAP

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

My thing to add to basically everything are the fried onions that you buy in a can. I have celiac and found gluten free ones at Kroger, and basically add them to all things. Bagged salad kits, stir fry, eggs, etc. For whatever reason they are so delicious and really put that packaged thing over the top.

Expand full comment

Trader Joe's Bruschetta + pre-cooked lentils + feta. 30-60 seconds in the microwave. Delicious salad or add chips for a yummy dip.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

LOL this is my lunch today at work

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I do the whole whatever is in the leftover pile + an orange or an apple or an avocado. The thing + another thing is always the best lunch! Last night, I made waffle iron hot sandwiches out of pork my husband had cooked and served them with mini tater tots. 100% family approval! I sound like a frat dude with my waffle iron (i.e. George Foreman grill), but I may never eat a hot sandwich that doesn't come in crunchy squares again!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I rescued terrible mashed potatoes with the waffle iron yesterday! (Well and with egg, a bunch of cheddar cheese, and some flour)

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

That sounds delish! I am going to try that!

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Trader Joe's frozen fried rice is my favorite base for this kind of recipe - add in an egg or two, any assorted leftover vegetables from other meals, maybe some chicken. My kids go crazy for it.

Expand full comment

We love their Japanese fried rice for this!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

this is a weekly staple in my house

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Is the rice already flavored?

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Yes, already flavored but not overly so (I often add to it)

Expand full comment
author

oooh--I like doing a few fried eggs on top of TJ's Pajeon

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

“Crack dip,” as we refer to it, is always a huge crowd pleaser at gatherings. One jar of roasted corn & black bean salsa (I tend to grab Newman’s Own or Desert Pepper but any will do) + one block of cream cheese. Heat on low and stir until blended. Serve with chips :)

Expand full comment

Avocados are so expensive here! If you can regularly get avocados for under a couple bucks without having to buy 6 at once, count yourself lucky!

My personal "can't be arsed" lunch is a boiled egg with two pieces of white toast. Yesterday I also had tomato juice as a beverage. Fancy!

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

If you can get the hardest avocados out there, let them ripen on the counter until perfect then toss them in the fridge. They’ll easily last at least another week, often closer to two! The closest store to me only does 10/$10 sales which seems like a crazy amount of avocados but I can still get through them almost all on my own this way (I usually share a couple).

Expand full comment
Feb 7Liked by Claire Zulkey

They also last longer if you buy ones that still have the little bit of stem attached 👍

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Bonus is that this method usually avoids a lot of the bruising that I was finding when buying riper avocados.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

May I recommend an egg cooker? I had originally poo pooed it as a dirty dirty "unitasker," but a friend bought me one to prove a point when my son was little and loved eggs beyond measure and it comes in clutch on a day when you need to eat something of nutritional value but you are also a lazy cow. It can hard, medium, or soft boil & mine even has a poaching insert! Best $24.99 ever.

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

We call ours The Banshee because it makes a screaming sound when it's done. My son finds it hilarious!

Expand full comment

I will look into it, thank you! I know my sister made a lot of sous vide eggs for my nephy when he was young.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

The answer is a fried egg on top of literally anything. The bagged salad? Leftover pizza? Cup o' noodles? Any leftover in the fridge? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Expand full comment

Same. Egg on chili, egg on soup, egg on roasted veggies, egg on pasta, egg on rice, egg on toast. Eggs on all of the things.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Ramen noodles + frozen peas and carrots for the kids. always a hit

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

We do this and add edamame and maybe an egg.

Expand full comment

"avocado not to scale" has me howling for some reason. thank you for brightening an otherwise miserable week.

Expand full comment

oh, and also - my favorite meal for myself is technically microwave popcorn and red wine, but when I need to also feed another adult it's kraft mac & cheese (extra creamy, please) mixed with a can of decent tuna and lots of cracked black pepper.

Expand full comment
author

that sounds so sophisticated! I hope your weekend is restorative.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

tuna salad (mayo, salt, pepper. Optional additions of chopped pickle, celery, pepper, whatever veg) + the super crunchy, thick-cut potato chips for scooping. Tortilla chips work in a pinch too.

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

You can also do this this with a lightly mashed can of chickpeas (then add the mayo, etc) for a vegetarian version!

Expand full comment
Feb 4Liked by Claire Zulkey

Buttered white rice (I normally use leftover rice or minute rice) with kimchi and a fried egg or two on top. Ultimate comfort food and relatively nutritious

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Bagged salad plus shredded rotisserie chicken!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Also, a three thing lunch: a scoop of TJ's precooked lentils, a couple big spoonfuls of their jarred bruschetta, and a couple handfuls of fresh spinach, microwaved with a lid on for a couple minutes till the spinach cooks down

Expand full comment

An avocado smushed up with some salsa and dollop that onto a really crunchy (in the texture *and* culture sense) cracker like Wasa or Ryvita. Technically three things but two are just opening packages.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Boxed chicken broth + frozen chicken & cilantro dumplings from Costco (or any other frozen dumpling) + handful of baby spinach thrown in at the end.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

A bagged salad with some lunch meat on it

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

A friend did that but with a can of tuna. It was delicious!

Expand full comment

I do this but with Trader Joes frozen crispy chicken cutlets (so you do have to heat those up but they do nicely in the toaster oven). I slice them on top and feel like I'm having a fancy steakhouse salad.

Expand full comment

My favorite "can't even" lunch right now is to make a plate with sliced apples, peanut butter, crackers, and cheddar cheese. Infinite possibilities and all are delicious

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Leftover quinoa, scrambled egg, Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and some cheddar cheese. Yum!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Packaged Ramen + either a scoop of mayo or a raw egg. Or both. You need to temper the egg so I have to be in the mood but it's delicious and it makes me feel like I'm giving my kids more of a full meal. If I'm getting really fancy I'll add greens such as green onions, bok choi, kale, spinach, or whatever's in the fridge.

Expand full comment

LOL I do this salad https://www.taylorfarms.com/products/asian-chopped-kit/ + frozen chicken tenders cooked in the air fryer (and I also eat the whole thing).

I like sliced avocado + genoa salami (just dump in a bowl and add pepper).

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

I am full of delight and despair at this thread - so many great ideas! But also so many threats to my work/life/lunch balance if feeding myself during the day is so easy and delicious! 😂💕

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Instant ramen plus shredded cheese (any kind!). I've been doing this since high school and it is sooooo good.

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Not quite the same but stir fry noodles. You buy the noodles precooked, add in the frozen veggies with the sauce packet and voila. An awesome meal.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

A longstanding easy thing is rice-a-roni plus cut up chicken breast in the pan during the simmer phase. Add frozen peas if you’re feeling fancy.

Expand full comment
Mar 5Liked by Claire Zulkey

(Checking back in to say thank you for your service, I have eaten this as lunch or a dinner side probably six times this month)

Expand full comment
author

🫡

Expand full comment
Feb 5Liked by Claire Zulkey

I am impressed with all of you eating salad for lunch which I should do more.

My favorite easy lunch is kind of a girl dinner lunch. Cut up baguette from the store with cheese and prosciutto or salami. Then whatever else I have — cut up fruit, olives, dried fruit, etc.

Expand full comment

Lol. A bagged Caesar salad with extra Parmesan reggiano

And yes I eat the whole bag.

Expand full comment
author
Feb 5·edited Feb 5Author

hell yeah brother

Expand full comment

Lol I’m a woman but yes.

Expand full comment
author

oh I figured but it just merited a Hulk Hogan style response

Expand full comment

Any of those frozen meals (like the healthy choice brand power bowls) that are made with lots of veggies and protein and have good flavour but are virtually devoid of carbs and therefore not an actual meal, plus a 90 second microwave rice pouch - usually long grain and wild.

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Trader Joe's lentil vegetable soup + 2 slices of toast is my go-to when I don't want to cook

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Costco was sampling Primal brand Buffalo sauce by mixing with canned chicken, and put on hawaiian roll. way more delicious than I'd expect given the simplicity. About to have that for lunch.

Expand full comment
founding
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Shredded lettuce +. Decent ranch + anytizer popcorn chicken. Additional toppings (croutons friend onions etc if available.)

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Ramen + a fried egg

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Heck yes, these Taylor Farms salad kits have been my jam for work lunches in 2024. I cook up a couple of Caulipower frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer and throw in a Tupperware for the office.

(Note: the chicken tenders must be the "spicy" ones, which are far, far superior to the regular ones.)

Expand full comment
author

this is the kind of detail people need!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Big plus one for the Southwest salad + avocado. I eat it lat least twice a week. I usually add 1-2 hardboiled eggs and some shredded cheese. Chef's kiss.

Expand full comment

Oh, I do this one all the time--but just for me 😂 I pretend I'm Elaine from Seinfeld and that this is my BIG SALAD. I eat with zero guilt and it's FAB! (I do let the greens soak a bit b/c it gives them that extra bit of zazz.) My FAVE family recipe that they all don't seem to hate and that feels fancy and not like we're always surrendering to incessantly bland pastas, is the sheet pan recipe from the NY Times Cooking section... it's the roast chicken, with pears, and arugula... and it's so full of flavor--everyone forgets they are eating greens. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022667-sheet-pan-roasted-chicken-with-pears-and-arugula

Expand full comment
Feb 7Liked by Claire Zulkey

I am going to make this tomorrow! The pears at Costco have been amazing lately, so I’m buying them regularly, but it’s still kind of challenge for us to get through 9 in a week.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Oohhh, I will have to look for that chopped salad! Mine is Momofuku ramen (fancy I know, you can order on Amazon) with a soft boiled egg on top. Last week I mixed in a TBSP of peanut butter with the Tingly Chili Noodles flavor, and it was amazing.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

How do you peel the soft boiled egg tho? Mine are always a mess.

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

I am so excited to teach you the one weird trick that actually works! Gently lower the egg into the boiling water when cooking it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeKQSW1LX8

(Is it easier said than done to gently do anything with a raw egg? Yes, and I do sometimes crack them on entry. But once they’re in, you are golden.)

Expand full comment
Feb 5Liked by Claire Zulkey

This is what I’ve learned that it works best too — if you boil the water first and then lower it in. I know some things suggest starting the egg in the water and bring it to a boil together but this seems to cause it to stick to the shell more.

Also I’ve heard insta pots make a good boiled egg that is easy to peel but I don’t have experience with it.

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Same! But if poaching an egg in the microwave is as easy as it’s described upthread, I’ll just start doing that instead of soft boiling

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

I add the egg to boiling water and cook for exactly 7 minutes and then cool for a few minutes in ice water, and then peel, and it usually peels pretty well. But the eggs need to be less fresh (been in the fridge for a few weeks). For some reason really fresh eggshells stick more.

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Not sure where I learned this, but a big splash of vinegar also helps make them easier to peel

Expand full comment
Feb 3Liked by Claire Zulkey

Thank you!!!

Expand full comment
Feb 2Liked by Claire Zulkey

Momofuku ramen is my go to as well. Add in two fried eggs and some roasted veg if around. 10/10.

Expand full comment